Tent



F. M. POWERS ETAL TENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 1, 1953 Filed OotA. 29, 1948 Dec. l, 1953 F. M. F'owlsws` ETAL TENT Filed oct. 29, y1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec l, 1953 F. M. PowERs ETAL 2,661,010

TENT

Filed Oct. 29. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 gw; Q1/W@ Patented Dec. 1, 1953 TENT Frank M. Powers, vRiver Forest, Ill., and Thomas VC. Powers and David W. Powers, Philadelphia,y Pa., assignors to Powers & Company, a partk nership Application October 29, 1948', Serial No. 57,332

14 claims.

This invention relates to a tent, and particularly to a support for the tent fabric that is readily assembled and disassembled, and that maintains a rigid structure when assembled in combination with the tent fabric. I Y

The subject of this invention is particularly useful in the manufacture of childrens play tents, as the tent can be assembled and disassembled quite readily, and when disassembled occupies a small space for storage.

The new` tent structure comprises broadly horizontal frame means having the outline of the adjacent portion of the tent, tent fabric engaged by the horizontal frame means, and an upright support member engaging a part of the frame means. and tensioning the tent fabric to form a rigid structure. The support member is horizontally slidable on a part of the frame means engaged by it to release the tension on the tent fabric and collapse the tent forstorage.

The tent fabric need not be disengaged from the frame means unless desired, and the tent may be reassembled merely by returning the support member to its upright, supporting position.

The invention will be described as relatedto the embodiments set out in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings Fig. l is a perspective view .of a circus type childs play tent with the tent fabric indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. fl is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the framework for a fourth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 is an elevation of a supporting rod for said fourth embodiment partially in section; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation showing the bottom portion vof the framework in folded position.

The tent shown in Figs. l and 2 comprises a bottom member It) made of a rod in the form of a closed figure having the shape of the bottom of the tent, and with two transverse rods il near each end of the bottom member i an intermediate member I2 similar in shape to the bottom member I0 but of smaller size, a pair of upright support members I3 with one of said members at each end of the tent and engageable with a transverse rod I I, and the tent fabric I stretched over the bottom member I0, intermediate member I2 and upright members I3 to form a rigid structure. The intermediate member l2 and the upright member I3 are made of rods. The bottom member I0 and intermediate member I2 provide horizontal frame means for the tent.

(Cl. 13S-3) The transverse rods I I are preferably welded at their ends to the bottom member I0. The upright members I3 have their bottom ends formed Ywith an arcuate surface I5 so that they will fit over the transverse rods I I. Each transverse rod preferably has an upwardly open, generally U-shaped bend, forming a slotlike deformity, as indicated at I6, to help hold the upright member in place. The top ends of the upright members are provided with spikes I1 that pass through holes I8 in the tent fabric. These holes are reinforced by patches I9 or metal eyelets.

The bottom of the tent fabric I4 may be sewed to the bottom member I 0 as indicated at 2l). This bottom portion may be tied to the bottom member, however, if desired'.

The intermediate member I2 is preferably tied to the tent fabric as by means of spaced tie strings 2l.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that in Figs. 1 and 2 except that here the tent is a wall tent, and the bottom member H9 and the intermediate member II2 are both rectangular. When the tent is assembled the upright support members I3 are preferably placed outside of the intermediate member II2 so as to give stability to the tent structure. Again, the bottom member I I0 and intermediate member II2 provide horizontal frame means.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 the bottom member 2li] provides horizontal frame means which is substantially square, and there is only one transverse member 2 I I substantially bisecting opposite sides of the bottom member 2I.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 to 7 the fabric is not shown and the framework comprises a bottom oval portion 25, a top oval portion 26 of similar shape but slightly smaller, spaced supporting legs 2l, and an arcuate bar 28 extending from end to end of the top oval 2S. The oval portions 25 and 26 provide horizontal frame means. Each supporting leg 2i is made of two bars 2t and 30 hinged together by means of a pin SI. The top of bottom bar 30 extends beyond the bottom of top bar 2e with the pin 3l extending through the bottom portion of top bar 2S and through bar 30. The two bars are held in extended relationship to form one continuous leg by means of a slidable sleeve 32. When the sleeve is in place, as shown in Fig. 6, it embraces the top of bottom bar 30 and the bottom of top bai-12S.

When the sleeve is moved upwardly the ltwov bars may be folded around their hinge pin as shown in Fig. 7.

Each leg 21 has its bottom end bent to form an eye 33 extending around a curved section 34 of the bottom oval member 25. Thus each leg can be folded down as indicated in Fig. 7. The top of each leg is bent to provide loop 35 open at the top. The loops support the top oval member 2t; but the leg may pivot about its eye 33 so that the loop 35 slides out of engagement with the member 26 to permit collapse of the tent structure. Folding the legs 21 about the pins 3l makes them more compact for storing the tent structure.

The arcuate bar 28 has loops 35 formed in its two ends with these loops passing around raised curved sections 31 of the top oval member 25. This permits folding of the arcuate section 28 onto the oval member 26.

Each illustrated embodiment includes horizontal frame means, a fabric tent engaged by the horizontal frame means, and an upright support member engaging a part of the horizontal frame means and tensioning the fabric tent to form a rigid structure. The support member slidably engages a part of the horizontal frame means so that it may be moved to a collapsed position to release the tension on the fabric tent.

Having described our invention as related to the embodiments set out in the accompanying drawings, it is our intention that the invention be not limited by the details of description unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. A tent structure comprising a rigid bottom member including a round bar forming a closed figure having the outline of the bottom of the tent, an upright member comprising a round bar engageable with the bottom member at its lower end and with the tent fabric at its upper end, and an intermediate member including a round bar forming a closed figure having the outline of an intermediate section of the tent with the intermediate member being engageable with and supported by the tent fabric, said members being adapted to form a rigid structure when assembled with the tent fabric, and said lower end of the upright member being provided with an arcuate surface adapted to straddle the bar of the base member when the structure is assembled.

2. In a tent structure having a fabric tent, a rigid bottom member of round metal rod means, the outer perimeter of which forms a closed ngure having the outline of the bottom of the tent, and an upright member having an arcuate portion at its lower end to loosely and slidably engage said round metal rod means, said members being adapted to engage the fabric tent to produce a rigid structure and said upright member being held in upright position solely by engagement with the fabric tent.

3. In a tent structure having a fabric tent, a rigid bottom member including a bar of substantially circular cross section which forms a closed figure having the outline of the bottom of the tent, and an upright member of substantially circular cross section which has at its lower end an arcuate surface adapted to straddle and loosely and slidably engage the bar of the base member when the tent structure is assembled, said members being adapted to engage the fabric tent to form a rigid structure, and said upright member being held in upright position solely by engagement with the fabric tent.

4. In a tent structure having a fabric tent, horizontal frame means including a bottom frame member having the shape of the bottom of the fabric tent and an intermediate frame member having the shape of an intermediate portion of the fabric tent, said frame members being engaged with the fabric tent, a plurality of support members engaging both of the frame members and horizontally slidable on one of said members for movement between an upright supporting position in which it tensions said fabric tent to form a rigid structure, and a collapsed position, whereby said tent structure may be collapsed while maintaining the engagement between said fabric tent and said horizontal frame means.

5. The vtent structure of claim 4 in which the support members comprise two pivotally joined pieces and means for detachably securing said pieces in extended position.

6. The tent structure of claim 4 in which the support member has an eye at one end pivoted on a frame member and an arcuate portion at the other end slidably engaging the other frame member.

'7. The tent structure of claim 4 in which a supporting member is provided on the top member extending from opposite sides thereof for supporting the tent fabric.

8. The tent structure of claim 4 in which a supporting member is provided on the top member extending from opposite sides thereof for supporting the tent fabric, said supporting member being hingedly attached to said top member so as to be foldable into substantially the same plane as the top member.

9. In a tent structure having a fabric tent, horizontal frame means having the outline of the adjacent part of the fabric tent and engaged therewith, and a support member having an end engaging a part of said frame means and horizontally slidable thereon for movement between an upright position in which it tensions said fabric tent to form a rigid structure, and a collapsed position, whereby said tent structure may be collapsed while maintaining the engagement between said fabric tent and said horizontal frame means.

10. The tent structure of claim 9 in which the horizontal frame means includes a bottom frame member having the outline of the bottom of the tent and provided with an upwardly facing shallow slotlike deformity, and the base of the support member is slidable on said bottom frame member and engages said deformity so as to be locked in upright position.

11. A tent structure comprising, in combination: a horizontal bottom frame having the outline of the bottom of the tent; a support member having an end slidably engaging a part of said bottom frame for movement between an upright supporting position and a collapsed position; a fabric tent engaged by said horizontal bottom frame and tensioned by said support member in its upright position to form a rigid, collapsible structure; and an intermediate frame member having the outline of an intermediate part of the tent, said intermediate frame member being supported by the fabric tent.

12. A tent structure comprising, in combination: a bottom frame member of stiff wire which has the outline of the bottom of the tent and is provided with a cross bar having a short, upwardly open, U-shaped bend; a support member slidably supported on said cross bar for movement between an upright supporting position and a collapsed position, said support member having an arcuate lower end which spans the cross bar and engages said U-shaped bend in supporting position; and a fabric tent engaged by said Y bottom frame member and tensioned Vby said support member in its upright position to form a rigid, collapsible structure.

13. A tent structure comprising, in combination: a horizontal bottom frame member having the outline of the bottom of the tent and having an integral cross bar extending from side to side thereof; a fabric tent having its lower end engaged by said bottom frame member; and an upright member having its base supported on said cross bar and horizontally slidable thereon Afor movement between an upright position in which it tensions said fabric tent to form a rigid structure, and a collapsed position, whereby said tent structure may be collapsed While maintaining the engagement between said fabric tent and said horizontal frame means.

14. A tent structure comprising, in combination: a rigid, uncollapsible bottom member having the outline of the bottom of the tent; a fabric Y tent having its bottom portion permanently secured to said bottom member; and a support member having its base engaging a part of said bottom member and horizontally slidable thereon for movement between an upright supporting position in which it tensions said fabric tent, and a collapsed position. FRANK M. POWERS.

THOMAS C. POWERS. DAVID W. POWERS.

References Cited in the flle of this patent l UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 912,184 Scott Feb. 9, 1909 1,112,052 Campbell Sept. 29, 1914 1,850,380 Carpenter Mar. 22, 1932 2,181,016 Gross Nov. 21, 1939 

